Roof-rack fuel containers?

[CR Williams]

Something that fits better and maybe more streamlined than tying a few gas cans on top? Preferable one you could leave on and fill up whenever you want to at the pump? Anything like that available?

[B+Shooter]

Maybe something along the lines of a fuel cell/fuel bladder. You could rig some feed/fill lines I suppose. They even have defense ones that are self-sealing/explosive resistant.

[LMarshall73]

THESE (http://www.rotopax.com/Gasoline/) don't fit the "fill in place" requirement, but look like they could be handy.

[B+Shooter]

THESE (http://www.rotopax.com/Gasoline/) don't fit the "fill in place" requirement, but look like they could be handy.

THAT'S a lot cheaper.

[Netpackrat]

Are you looking for the rack itself, or can carriers to mount to a rack, or both? The rack is going to depend on what vehicle you have. I prefer a bumper or tailgate mount can holder to lower the center of gravity, but roof rack can holders can work well, especially if you are using a siphon hose to refuel from your cans. A couple of links:

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/jerrycanholders/

http://www.britishpacific.com/products.php?model=Series+II-IIa&engine=2.6+petrol&cattext=Expedition+And+Protection&subcattext=Jerry+Cans&group=Jerry+Can+Holder+%2820L%29&year=all

[Coolhand77]

Now I just have to figure out how to mount them on my Blast. Sucker was not designed for cargo...but its a great commuter.

[CR Williams]

Are you looking for the rack itself, or can carriers to mount to a rack, or both? The rack is going to depend on what vehicle you have. I prefer a bumper or tailgate mount can holder to lower the center of gravity, but roof rack can holders can work well, especially if you are using a siphon hose to refuel from your cans.

Carriers to mount on an existing rack. Vehicle is a Nissan Pathfinder. I'm looking for something to fit on the rack for that if possible.

Good links, guys. Thank you. If you got some other ideas, throw 'em up.

[CR Williams]

I may be over-thinking this, though I was hoping for something I could run a hose down from if I needed the gas. A simple clamshell covering some cans would keep a stash handy.

[LMarshall73]

Kinda like this?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5214902891_c8ba6434d8_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5214902689_17d5f70022_b.jpg

[Netpackrat]

I may be over-thinking this, though I was hoping for something I could run a hose down from if I needed the gas. A simple clamshell covering some cans would keep a stash handy.

Super siphon and extension? The only trouble I have had with mine, is the hose loses its flexibility in the cold weather.

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/supersiphon/

Not sure what you mean by a clamshell, but you could build (or have built) something like I built for my Jeep to carry gasoline. I've posted pics or a link in a couple of other threads here already, but here's another pic:

14792

One other possibility that might be worthwhile, is to see if anyone makes an extended range tank for your rig, then you wouldn't have to screw with cans at all. My brother bought an extended tank for his LJ, that took the capacity from the stock 19 gallons, to just over 30. It was expensive, but the increase in range really came in handy when he drove it from CO to AK last summer.

[Spiffy]

Super siphon and extension? The only trouble I have had with mine, is the hose loses its flexibility in the cold weather.

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/supersiphon/

Not sure what you mean by a clamshell, but you could build (or have built) something like I built for my Jeep to carry gasoline. I've posted pics or a link in a couple of other threads here already, but here's another pic:

14792

One other possibility that might be worthwhile, is to see if anyone makes an extended range tank for your rig, then you wouldn't have to screw with cans at all. My brother bought an extended tank for his LJ, that took the capacity from the stock 19 gallons, to just over 30. It was expensive, but the increase in range really came in handy when he drove it from CO to AK last summer.

Of Fab makes a tire carrier like this but its more streamlined....... and sells for $600.

[Prairie Fire]

I may be over-thinking this, though I was hoping for something I could run a hose down from if I needed the gas.


If you go with old-style GI cans, it's simple to drill out the can's lid, tap it, plumb a brass 90 degree lever or radiator screw-type spigot, run the hose off of it of whatever length is needed to get to your vehicle's fuel inlet. If you carry the cans with lids up, then a length of tubing sufficient to reach to the bottom of the can, will have to be added to the above plumbing.

Back in the days of "free-er" gasoline, some people used to go the long distance route with a 55-gal drum in back of the truck. When the gauge got low, you stop, unscrew the bung, put in the Nebraska credit card, jerk or suck it off, then put the hose into the fuel inlet place, get back in the truck, and drive on... watching the gas gauge. Stop again and interrupt the refueling when the truck's gauge shows close to full. A compadre who could bail out the sliding back window of the truck to get this thing done while continuing to go down the road, was a benefit to cross country travel.

Times change. The benefit for anyone who uses a gasoline-powered vehicle, of having a nice clean 55-gal drum and related plumbing (hand pump, hoses, etc)... just as a back-up plan... has not changed.

[Netpackrat]

Lots of places make swing out tire carriers. I don't care for the OR-Fab version because it attaches to the body; a frame mount is stronger, and also my roof rack needs to attach to the body, in pretty much the same location. Mine is part of the bumper, and therefore attaches to the frame (which I have reinforced where the bumper attaches). Anyway, I wasn't trying to show off the tire carrier as much as the fuel can boxes themselves. They're made out of 16 gauge steel, are padlockable, and keep the cans out of sight and out of mind. I can also throw things in there that I don't want to put in the Jeep, like muddy tow straps and things of that nature. For a roof rack, you could make one 2 or 3 cans wide with a single lid. That's a lot of weight up high, however.

[Ma Deuce]

Maybe not a concern for you, but I thought I would chime in anyway.

I have a buddy still struggling with PTSD after pulling crisped-up major out of a hummer due to the rack mounted fuel cans igniting after an IED blast.

I realize this is probably not a concern, but the same could happen in an auto accident. If those cans are ruptured, your vehicle will be covered in fuel... Something to think about.

I would stick to off-road use only. The roadway just poses too much risk.

[Netpackrat]

That's definitely a concern. It's another part of the reason why I have steel fuel cans, and why I built fully enclosed steel boxes for my steel fuel cans. Another feature I haven't mentioned, is the drain holes in the bottoms of the boxes, so if a can leaks there will be less opportunity for fuel/fumes to build up inside. The possibility of a rollover accident is higher with an off road vehicle, and putting a lot of weight up high only makes it worse. On the other hand, mounting them on the rear makes them more vulnerable to a rear-end collision, but between the tire, tire carrier, and steel boxes, I think I'm at least as well protected in that area as any normal car with a rear mounted fuel tank. If I get hit hard enough with something to burst/ignite my fuel cans, it probably would have ignited my primary fuel tank, which is only a foot or so away.

Furthermore, using the cans for "off road only" isn't always an option, either. From my house to my cabin is about a 300 mile drive, the last 60 of which are an unpaved, lane and a half road, basically just an overgrown logging road. There is one gas station with unreliable hours at the beginning of the unpaved section. The last reliable gas station is at the 180 mile point from my house. My Jeep has a 19 gallon tank, about 16-17 gallons of which is usable (max), and gets 15 mpg. Do the math. Assuming a top-off at the 180 mile mark, I might be able to just barely make it back there on fumes, but with one additional can it is generally assured. That's only if I just drive out there and hang around the cabin the whole time. If I want to do any driving or 4 wheeling while I am out there, I need at least one more can of fuel. Or if it is winter and I have to spend more time in 4wd than just the last half mile or so of Jeep trail into my place. I keep a stash of stabilized fuel in my wood shed and one time in the winter I had to use it plus what I was carrying just to get home, and we still didn't have a lot of slack by the time we reached the station on the way out (I keep a bigger stash now). In that case, my intel on road conditions had been incorrect, and we spent a lot of time in 4 low just getting in and out, and didn't do any extra driving while there.

So yeah, I don't generally carry my fuel cans in the city, but I do carry them a lot when I am actually going somewhere in my Jeep. I've designed my equipment to stack the odds as far in my favor as possible, but ultimately it still boils down to a calculated risk. Fortunately, I don't have to worry much about IEDs here in Alaska. The biggest risk we face is random JDAM (Jeep Destroying Assault Moose) collisions.....

[denko]

I read a news story of a guy and his dog that went up in flames after his jeep with fuel cans was rear ended. The steel boxes for the fuel cans sounds like a good idea if you are going to carry them full time in the city.